The SMS Group announced that it has received an order from Conticon—a joint venture between Grupo Condumex and Xignux, a manufacturer of electrolytic tough pitch (ETP) copper rod—for a state-of-the-art CONTIROD® line (pictured) in North America.

A press release said that the order from Conticon calls for the SMS Group to supply and commission the CONTIROD line at its plant in Celaya-Villagrán, Mexico. The new line will expand capacity there by up to 320 thousand tons of ETP copper rod per year. The line is designed to reduce electrical energy consumption by 55% and natural gas by 30%. The project is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2026.

“This strategic investment in the combined CONTIROD casting and rolling process addresses the growing demand for high-quality copper rod for the automotive and telecommunications industries in the region,” the release said. The new line will boost the capacity of the existing SMS Group CONTIROD plant originally installed in 1984.

SMS will provide a complete CONTIROD line that will cover every stage of production, including the charging device, furnace plant, casting machine, rolling plant, and cooling line, as well as the coil forming and handling systems. The CONTIROD CR3700 line has a capacity of 48 tons per hour, and the increased production capacity will enable Condumex to better serve its own group, investment partners, and the export market, effectively addressing the increasing demand for copper wire rod.

SMS and Grupo Condumex share a long-standing relationship, dating back to the installation of the first line in 1984. Over the years, SMS has provided spare parts and implemented upgrades, ensuring the plant’s continued operation and efficiency. The new line is also equipped with SMS-Metrics, a digitalization tool designed for real-time recording, storage, and evaluation of machine data, thereby improving operational efficiency.

South Korea’s LS Cable & System has won a court battle in a long-standing patent dispute with Taihan Cable & Solution, with a March 13 ruling by the Intellectual Property High Court that found that Taihan Cable must pay 1.5 billion won ($1.03 million) in compensation for partially infringing LS Cable’s patent on joint kits used in bus ducts.

Per press release and multiple media reports, the lawsuit, initiated in 2019, revolves around LS Cable’s claim that Taihan Cable infringed its patented technology for bus duct joint kits—a critical component for distributing electricity in large-scale installations.

LS Cable alleged technology leakage after an employee of its subcontractor joined Taihan Cable in 2011, leading to the production of similar products. Taihan Cable argued that it had been using the joint kit products for years, noting that there were earlier patents in the US and Japan and that LS Cable & System amended them, so its actions should not be seen as patent infringement. The court, however, court sided with LS Cable, emphasizing the importance of protecting technological innovation.

“We respect the court’s ruling and view it as recognition of our technological capabilities,” stated an LS Cable official. “We will continue to respond firmly to any acts of infringement.”

Taihan is considering whether to appeal. LS Cable & System is the largest South Korean cable company and Taihan Cable & Solution is the second largest. “As we have used a different type of joint kit since several years ago, the latest ruling will not affect our bus duct business,” a Taihan C&S official was quoted as saying.

In a twist, there were reports that the Hoban Group, the parent company of Taihan C&S, had purchased shares in LS Corp., the parent of LS C&S. The investment represented less than 3% percent. Per media reports, if the Hoban stake topped 3% it would have the rights to access the account book of LS Corp. and to convene an extraordinary general meeting of its shareholders.

Japan’s Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (SEI), announced that it has signed a Capacity Reservation Agreement (CRA) with SSEN Transmission to supply and install a second 525 kV HVDC cable link between Shetland and the Scottish mainland.

A press release said that the signing of the CRA was significant as the planned cable will be made from SEI’s new manufacturing facility that is under construction in Nigg, northeast Scotland. Further, cables of this type and technology have never previously been manufactured in the U.K. and the announcement is a significant step towards realizing substantial benefit for the local area and the country as a whole.

“We are delighted to have penned this Capacity Reservation Agreement with SSEN Transmission,” said Yasuyuki Shibata, chair of Sumitomo Electric UK and Europe. “This is a significant milestone for Sumitomo Electric’s subsea cable factory investment in Scotland.”

Last May, SSEN Transmission selected Sumitomo Electric as the preferred bidder for the Shetland 2 project, which at the time was described as a crucial milestone underpinning SEI’s £350 million investment in its new cable manufacturing facility. The approximately 150,000-sq m site was said to be moving along as anticipated. The steelworks and factory fit-out are scheduled to take place in 12 to 15 months. The facility will provide employment for 150 full-time employees and double that number for indirect hires.

Bekaert announces it has reached an agreement to sell its Steel Wire Solutions businesses in Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Venezuela to Grupo AG.

A press release said that the deal has a transaction value of approximately US$73 million, with net proceeds for Bekaert of some US$37 million.  The collective operations had revenues of $137 million in 2024. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, subject to applicable regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

Bekaert noted in the release that its strategy in recent years has been “to transform its business portfolio by reducing the Group’s exposure to more commoditized and volatile markets, while increasing its presence in faster growing markets, which typically offer higher profit margins and higher returns on capital.” Following the divestment of its Steel Wire Solutions business in Chile and Peru in 2023, Bekaert is now taking a further step in its portfolio transformation by exiting the businesses in Costa Rica, Ecuador and Venezuela. That will allow the company to strengthen its focus on target segments, while securing a long-term future for the customers and employees of the divested entities.

The transaction includes the production and distribution facilities of the Steel Wire Solutions businesses in Costa Rica, Ecuador and Venezuela. These facilities manufacture and sell steel wire products primarily for construction, agricultural fencing, mining, and industrial applications. The transaction concerns the sale of the shares held by Bekaert in BIA Alambres Costa Rica S.A. in Costa Rica, Ideal Alambrec S.A. in Ecuador, and Vicson S.A. in Venezuela, along with their subsidiaries in each of those countries.

The activities subject to the transaction generated approximately US$137 million in consolidated revenue in 2024. The proceeds from the sale will further strengthen Bekaert’s balance sheet and support its commitment to shareholder returns and investment plans for growth.

“The proposed transaction unlocks the value of these businesses for Bekaert,” said François Desné, divisional CEO of Bekaert’s Steel Wire Solutions business unit. “It marks another significant milestone in our portfolio transformation, further strengthening the Steel Wire Solutions business with a more competitive and resilient market position. We have achieved numerous successes together with our longstanding partners. However, over time the characteristics of the markets in these three countries no longer align with our strategy.”